5,186 research outputs found
Spacecraft drag-free technology development: On-board estimation and control synthesis
Estimation and control methods for a Drag-Free spacecraft are discussed. The functional and analytical synthesis of on-board estimators and controllers for an integrated attitude and translation control system is represented. The framework for detail definition and design of the baseline drag-free system is created. The techniques for solution of self-gravity and electrostatic charging problems are applicable generally, as is the control system development
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Status and Prospects of the Fast Ignition Inertial Fusion Concept
Fast ignition is an alternate concept in inertial confinement fusion, which has the potential for easier ignition and greater energy multiplication. If realized it could improve the prospects for inertial fusion energy. It poses stimulating challenges in science and technology and the research is approaching a key stage in which the feasibility of fast ignition will be determined. This review covers the concepts, the state of the science and technology, the near term prospects and the challenges and risks involved in demonstrating high gain fast ignition
Fast-ignition design transport studies: realistic electron source, integrated PIC-hydrodynamics, imposed magnetic fields
Transport modeling of idealized, cone-guided fast ignition targets indicates
the severe challenge posed by fast-electron source divergence. The hybrid
particle-in-cell [PIC] code Zuma is run in tandem with the
radiation-hydrodynamics code Hydra to model fast-electron propagation, fuel
heating, and thermonuclear burn. The fast electron source is based on a 3D
explicit-PIC laser-plasma simulation with the PSC code. This shows a quasi
two-temperature energy spectrum, and a divergent angle spectrum (average
velocity-space polar angle of 52 degrees). Transport simulations with the
PIC-based divergence do not ignite for > 1 MJ of fast-electron energy, for a
modest 70 micron standoff distance from fast-electron injection to the dense
fuel. However, artificially collimating the source gives an ignition energy of
132 kJ. To mitigate the divergence, we consider imposed axial magnetic fields.
Uniform fields ~50 MG are sufficient to recover the artificially collimated
ignition energy. Experiments at the Omega laser facility have generated fields
of this magnitude by imploding a capsule in seed fields of 50-100 kG. Such
imploded fields are however more compressed in the transport region than in the
laser absorption region. When fast electrons encounter increasing field
strength, magnetic mirroring can reflect a substantial fraction of them and
reduce coupling to the fuel. A hollow magnetic pipe, which peaks at a finite
radius, is presented as one field configuration which circumvents mirroring.Comment: 16 pages, 17 figures, submitted to Phys. Plasma
Ophiostoma denticiliatum sp. nov. and other Ophiostoma species associated with the birch bark beetle in southern Norway
Ophiostomatoid fungi were isolated from Scolytus ratzeburgi infesting Betula pendula and B. pubescens in Norway. Fungi were identified based on morphology, DNA sequence comparison for two gene regions and phylogenetic analyses. The most abundant fungus was Ophiostoma karelicum, suggesting a specific relationship between the fungus, the vector insect and the host tree. Our results suggest that O. karelicum occurs across the geographic range of S. ratzeburgi and its close relatedness to the Dutch elm disease fungi suggests that it could be important if introduced into other parts of the world. Other fungi, only occasionally isolated from S. ratzeburgi, were identified as O. quercus and a novel taxon, described here as O. denticiliatum sp. nov
Quantum Logic for Trapped Atoms via Molecular Hyperfine Interactions
We study the deterministic entanglement of a pair of neutral atoms trapped in
an optical lattice by coupling to excited-state molecular hyperfine potentials.
Information can be encoded in the ground-state hyperfine levels and processed
by bringing atoms together pair-wise to perform quantum logical operations
through induced electric dipole-dipole interactions. The possibility of
executing both diagonal and exchange type entangling gates is demonstrated for
two three-level atoms and a figure of merit is derived for the fidelity of
entanglement. The fidelity for executing a CPHASE gate is calculated for two
87Rb atoms, including hyperfine structure and finite atomic localization. The
main source of decoherence is spontaneous emission, which can be minimized for
interaction times fast compared to the scattering rate and for sufficiently
separated atomic wavepackets. Additionally, coherent couplings to states
outside the logical basis can be constrained by the state dependent trapping
potential.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review
Ground state properties of a one-dimensional condensate of hard core bosons in a harmonic trap
The exact N-particle ground state wave function for a one-dimensional
condensate of hard core bosons in a harmonic trap is employed to obtain
accurate numerical results for the one-particle density matrix, occupation
number distribution of the natural orbitals, and momentum distribution. Our
results show that the occupation of the lowest orbital varies as N^{0.59}, in
contrast to N^{0.5} for a spatially uniform system, and N for a true BEC.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
A Storage Ring for Neutral Atoms
We have demonstrated a storage ring for ultra-cold neutral atoms. Atoms with
mean velocities of 1 m/s corresponding to kinetic energies of ~100 neV are
confined to a 2 cm diameter ring by magnetic forces produced by two
current-carrying wires. Up to 10^6 atoms are loaded at a time in the ring, and
7 revolutions are clearly observed. Additionally, we have demonstrated multiple
loading of the ring and deterministic manipulation of the longitudinal velocity
distribution of the atoms using applied laser pulses. Applications of this ring
include large area atom interferometers and cw monochromatic atomic beam
generation.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Cone-Guided Fast Ignition with no Imposed Magnetic Fields
Simulations of ignition-scale fast ignition targets have been performed with
the new integrated Zuma-Hydra PIC-hydrodynamic capability. We consider an
idealized spherical DT fuel assembly with a carbon cone, and an
artificially-collimated fast electron source. We study the role of E and B
fields and the fast electron energy spectrum. For mono-energetic 1.5 MeV fast
electrons, without E and B fields, the energy needed for ignition is E_f^{ig} =
30 kJ. This is about 3.5x the minimal deposited ignition energy of 8.7 kJ for
our fuel density of 450 g/cm^3. Including E and B fields with the resistive
Ohm's law E = \eta J_b gives E_f^{ig} = 20 kJ, while using the full Ohm's law
gives E_f^{ig} > 40 kJ. This is due to magnetic self-guiding in the former
case, and \nabla n \times \nabla T magnetic fields in the latter. Using a
realistic, quasi two-temperature energy spectrum derived from PIC laser-plasma
simulations increases E_f^{ig} to (102, 81, 162) kJ for (no E/B, E = \eta J_b,
full Ohm's law). This stems from the electrons being too energetic to fully
stop in the optimal hot spot depth.Comment: Minor revisions in response to referee comment
Breakdown of time-dependent mean-field theory for a one-dimensional condensate of impenetrable bosons
We show that the time-dependent nonlinear Schrodinger equation of mean-field
theory has limited utility for a one-dimensional condensate of impenetrable
bosons. Mean-field theory with its associated order parameter predicts
interference between split condensates that are recombined, whereas an exact
many-body treatment shows minimal interference.Comment: 4 pages, 2 EPS figure
Surface Effects in Magnetic Microtraps
We have investigated Bose-Einstein condensates and ultra cold atoms in the
vicinity of a surface of a magnetic microtrap. The atoms are prepared along
copper conductors at distances to the surface between 300 um and 20 um. In this
range, the lifetime decreases from 20 s to 0.7 s showing a linear dependence on
the distance to the surface. The atoms manifest a weak thermal coupling to the
surface, with measured heating rates remaining below 500 nK/s. In addition, we
observe a periodic fragmentation of the condensate and thermal clouds when the
surface is approached.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; v2: corrected references; v3: final versio
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